Direction-signal for automobiles



W. L. MILLER AND E. A. F. MILLER, JR.

DIRECTION SIGNAL FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED IuIIE 28. 1,919.

1 350,463. Patented Aug. 24, 1920.

2Q me/micas Illuqlllm 'I IIIIIIIII UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM L. MILLER AND ERNEs/r a. r.

T/ILLER, OF COFFEYVILLE, KANSAS,

ASSIGNORS OF ONE-THIRE) TO NEIL A. COOKE, OF COFFEYVILLE, KANSAS.

DIRECT): GBT-SIGNAL To all whom t may concern:

` Be it known that we, vWILLrAM L. MILLER and ERNEST A. F. MILLER, Jr., citizens of the United" States, residing at Coffeyville,

. in the county of Montgomery and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Direction-Signals for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to signals to be mounted upon. automobiles for the purpose of indicating' the direction in which the machine is about to go, and particularly to a signal of the class wherein an arrow-like member is rotated and shifted entirely to indicate the direction of the automobile.'

The general object of the invention is to provide a very simple signal attachment of this character which may be mounted upon the fender of the automobile or at any other convenient point, and which is manipulated by means of an actuating lever located upon the steering post or column adjacent the steering wheel so that it may always be under the control of the operator.

A further object is to provide a construction of this character which may be rotated to indicate that the machine will move forward, to the right, to the left, or reversely.

A further object is to provide a device of this character in which the signal arrow is rotated by means of a longitudinally movable, screw-threaded member mounted in a rotatable, interiorly screw-threaded sleeve, this memberbeing shiftable in either direction by a longitudinally movable push and `pull controlling wire disposed in the casing so that by shifting this screw-threaded member longitudinally through said wire and a manually operable lever, the arrow may be caused to rotate from a normalv position to a position indicating vthe course to be taken by the automobile.

Other objects have to do with the details of construction and arrangement of parts as will be observed hereafter.

Our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein j Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of our improved signal, the actuating means being shown in elevation;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the upper end of the signal,

FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pa'gnted Aug. 24 1920 Application filed June 28,

19,19. Serial No. 307,397.

Fig. $3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4L is a section on the line 1 4 of Fig. l; and Fig. 5 is arrow.

Referring to these drawings, it will be seen that the base of our signal comprises a clamp 10, which is illustrated as a clamp adapted to be engaged with a fender ofthe automobile, this clamp comprising a strip of metal bent into a hook 11 at one end and at its opposite end angularly bent, as at l2, and provided with a set screw 13. Mounted upon this fender clamp is a tubular housing 14 which, at its upper end, has a transverse web formed with a central bearing opening 15. Disposed within the upper 'portion of this hollow post is a tubular sleeve 1G which may be made of brass or other like material, and which at its upper end carries a steel pin 17 which extends up through the bearing` opening 15. letachably connected to the upper end of this pin 1i" is the indicating arrow 18 which is provided with a head 19 at one end and a butt 2() at the other. This arrow is preferably made of polished magnalium and is held in place by a set screw 21. rlhe middle of the arrow is recessed, as at 22, and disposed in this recess is a coiled expansion spring 23 constituting an antirattling spring. T he spring does not affect the rotation or the arrow in any way, but merely holds the arrow firmly in place against any tendency to rattle. Any other device for this purpose may be provided, however. it will be understood, of course, that the pin 17 is iirmly connected to the arrow and the sleeve 1G. The exterior of a rear end view of the signal this central portion of the arrow is some-v what bulbous and provided with a plurality of notches 24. arranged equidistantly, and the detent spring 25 is mounted upon the upper end of the post and provided with a head 2G engaging in these notches. This spring will hold the arrow set in any desired position, Abut will yield when force is applied to the arrow to turn it. The sleeve 16 adjacent its lower end is disposed within fiber bushing 2T, which prevents the sleeve from rattling within the hollow column or post and also acts as a bearing for the lower portion of the rotatable sleeve.

Likewise disposed within the hollow post Vio i V l 14h isalongitudinally movable rod 28, which` c Vis illustrated as rectangular m cross section threads. This screw-tln'eaded portion of the rod projects into the sleeve, and the sleeve 16 is crimped at its lower end or otherwise formedso asto engage the screw-threads of the rod 28. This rod 28 may be screwthreaded by twisting the upper portion thereof. the length of the screw-threaded portion of the rod will be sufficient. The lower portion of the sleeve is held from rotation but permitted to have longitudinal movement in a bearing member 30 which has a rectangular opening through it, through which the rod passes, and which is held from rotation within the tube by a set screw 31 extending through the tube and engaging the notch in the side of this bearing.

For the purpose of longitudinally shifting the screw-threaded rod 28, we attach to the lower end offthis rod by means of a set screw a pull wire 32 which may be of strong piano wire, and this extends downward through the column and out through the base and to a suitable lever. Preferably, this pull wire is mounted in a tube 33 which is just large enough to receive the wire 'and to permit it to slide through it, this tube being engaged at that end inserted within the column 16 by means of a split clamp bushing 3a which is slotted or split to initially receive the end of the tube 33,

and then a set screw 35 engages the notch 1n this clamp bushing and causes the liaws to be forced toward each other and to clamp upon the tube. This tube extends through Y the base 10 and is of suitable length for the purpose desired. Disposed upon a sectorshaped bracket 36 is an actuating lever 37, to which the wire 32 is connected. This bracket is providedwith a clamp 38 engaging `the tube 33. This bracket 3G may be mounted horizontally in connection with the steering wheel or in any desired location. Vhen the lever is shifted in one direction, it will pull on the wire 32, which will cause the screw-threaded rod 28 to move longitudinally, thus rotating the sleeve 16 and shifting the signal arm. In its normal position, the signal arm is held straightahead.

-.Tf it be desired to indicate a turn toward Ythis will push on the wire 32 and cause the arrow to turn from its normal position to lthe right.; A pull-willbring it back to its forward position, a further pull will shift One or more complete turns forV the arrow to the left,rthen to the rear, and then a push will reverse this movement of the arrow. This shifting of the arrow may be done by a three-`quarter rotation of the member 16. l l

Preferably, the signal arrow is formed at one end with the head 19, circular in form, and having a somewhat concave recess 39 on its rear face. The exterior of the arrow is painted red and this recess is painted green. The butt 2() of the arrow is also formed at its rear end with a recess et() which kis painted green, while the exterior-of the butt is painted red. lt will be obvious that when the green. shows, safety is indicated and that the automobile is going away or about to go away from the observer. The positions of the arrow will, of course, as before explained, indicate the position in which the automobile is about to move. lnasmuch as this signal is not automatic, that is not connected to the steering mechanism of the automobile, it is capable of being shifted in advance of any turning movement so ask to give a full indication to other vehicles and foot travelers just exactly what the machine is going to do.

Vhile a form of this invention has been illustrated which is deemed to be particularly effective, which is very simple, and which may be cheaply made and is applicable for attachmentto all automobiles, we do not wish to be limited to this exact form, as it is obvious that many changes might be made without departing from the'spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The device is intended to be attached to the front fender'on the right or left side, and the post 14 is of such height that the arrow may be plainly seen over the hood. Of course, it is obvious that it might be attached to other portions of the vehicle.

Ve claim:

1. An automobile signal comprising a tubular support, an internally threaded, rotatable member mounted within the upper end of the support and extending out through the upper end thereof, an indicating member carried by said rotatable member, a longitudinally movable, threaded member mounted within the tubular support and engaging with the rotatable member, said last named member being held from rotation but having longitudinal movement, an actuating lever, a flexible connection between the actuating lever and the second named member, and a spring detent acting to resist a rotation of the first named rotatable member.

2. An automobile signal comprising a tubular support, an internally threaded, rotatable member mounted within the upper end of the support and extending out through the upper end thereof, an indicating member carried by said rotatable member, a longitudinally movable, threaded named member, a detent yieldingly resisting the rotation of the first named member, and an anti-rattler spring coiled around the eX- tension of the first named rotatable member, the indicating member being recessed to receive the spring.

3. An automobile signal comprising a tubular support, an internally threaded, rotatable member mounted Within the upper end of the support and extending out through the upper end thereof, an indicating member carried by said rotatable member, a longitudinally movable, threaded member mounted Within the tubular support and engaging With the rotatable member, said last named member being held from rotation but having longitudinal movement, an actuating lever, a iiexible connection between the actuating lever and the second named member, and means yieldingly resisting a rotation or' the indicating member comprising a spring attached to the tubular support and having a ball at one end, the indicating member having a series of spaced recesses into which said ball will lit, the ball being engageable in said recesses to hold the indicating member in adjusted position.

In testimony whereof We hereunto af'x our signatures in the presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM L. MILLER. ERNEST A. F. MILLER, JR.

Witnesses:

R. P. NEUMAN, WV. M. LADD. 

